February 28th This Day in Missouri

On February 28, the following notable historical events related to Missouri occurred:

• 1806: Zebulon Pike’s expedition, launched from St. Louis to map the southern Louisiana Purchase, continued its winter trek through the Arkansas River region, with no specific Missouri event noted, likely due to minimal winter activity.
• 1856: In the “Bleeding Kansas” conflict, Missouri’s pro-slavery “Border Ruffians” persisted in raiding Kansas anti-slavery settlers, aiming to shape the territory’s slavery debate through ongoing violent clashes.
• 1861: Union General Henry W. Halleck, stationed in St. Louis, reinforced federal control over Missouri, while Confederate guerrillas in rural areas intensified winter raids, deepening the state’s Civil War divisions.
• 1864: After Confederate General Sterling Price’s failed Missouri campaign, his forces, including Missouri units, focused on winter reorganization in Arkansas, with little activity occurring in Missouri.
• 1888: The Missouri Pacific Railroad’s southeast Missouri expansion, linking Cape Girardeau to national trade networks, boosted regional economies, with rail operations steady as February ended.
• 1929: The Great Depression hit Missouri hard, with Kansas City and St. Louis facing widespread unemployment and business failures, as local relief efforts struggled to support communities in late winter.
• 1941: Following Pearl Harbor, Missouri’s St. Louis and Kansas City accelerated World War II efforts, with factories ramping up military production and enlistment campaigns expanding to meet wartime demands.